This year’s tournament boasts a star-studded international line-up but Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are both capable of sending local golf fans home happy on Sunday evening.

McIlroy should be in the mix for obvious reasons - he is the best player on the planet – but Lowry also has the tools to compete.

Shane will be licking his lips at the prospect of rubbing shoulders with Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood and Ernie Els this week.

He produced another impressive display at Wentworth and his T6th finish sets him up nicely for Royal County Down.

Shane Lowry of on the 18th green during day 4 of the BMW PGA Championship (Image: Getty)

Lowry’s game is maturing and his reputation continues to grow but the time has come for him to turn big performances into wins.

He won the Irish Open as an amateur in 2009 and to secure the title as a professional this year would be a truly wonderful achievement.

Shane’s game is tailor made for Newcastle’s famous links and he is one of my top picks of the week.

Rory, of course, who is a strong favourite with most bookmakers, will have something to say about that.

McIlroy’s record at the Irish Open is poor by his own high standards. He has missed the cut the past two years while his T7th finish at Adare Manor in 2008 and 10th at Royal Portrush in 2012 were rare highlights.

Focused Fowler's a threat

An in-form and focused Rickie Fowler can set pulses racing at this week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

The World No9 travels to Royal County Down on the back of his recent high profile win at The Players Championship and his presence is a real coup for organisers.

How will Fowler perform? Well, bookies have him second favourite behind McIlroy and it’s hard to quibble with that assessment.

Remember, he went close to winning the 2011 Open at Royal St George’s in testing weather conditions, so links golf will hold few surprises or fears.

He also won the Walker Cup here in 2007 and rates Royal County Down one of his favourite tracks, so he’ll be comfortable with the environment.

Fowler’s decision to travel to the Irish Open reminds me of the 1980s when American stars like Lee Trevino, Curtis Strange, Mark O’Meara and Tom Kite competed at Portmarnock and Royal Dublin. It’s great to see.

To date, only two Americans – Hubert Green and Ben Crenshaw in 1976 and 1977 – have won the Irish Open, so Fowler will be keen to join that select list.

He’ll also relish the opportunity of taking Rory out in his own back yard.

Huge crowd expected Royal County Down

It stands to reason that a sharp media focus will home in on Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler at Royal County Down this week.

The World No1 and No9 are two of the in-form talents in world golf and will be the darlings of the packed galleries.

However, it would be remiss of us to overlook the potential eye-catching contributions of a stellar supporting cast.

The 80,000-plus spectators who descend on Royal County Down over the course of the next four days will have the pleasure of watching five current or former World No1s - McIlroy, Luke Donald, Ernie Els, Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood – at close quarters.

Add into the mix the likes of Sergio Garcia and EIGHT former Major champions, including Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Paul Lawrie and Jose Maria Olazabal, and it promises to be a star-studded week of golf.

Betting Slip

Irish Open

Rory McIlroy – 10/3 EW: Will be eager to woo local fans after missing cut at Wentworth.

Shane Lowry – 22/1 EW: 2009 Irish Open champion is a big home hope at Royal County Down.

Luke Donald – 45/1 EW: This is a very tempting price for the former World No1.

AT&T Byron Nelson

Jordan Spieth – 9/2 EW: Two wins and three seconds in his last eight starts this season.

Dustin Johnson – 12/1 EW: Has had top-20 finishes in his last four trips to TPC Four Seasons.

Jason Day – 14/1 EW: Won his first PGA Tour event here in 2010. Likes the track.